Indonesia: Sukarno during the Asian African Conference

On Wednesday I got six postcards: one from Indonesia, two from Germany, one from Hong Kong, one from the United Kingdom and one from Japan.

The card from Indonesia shows Sukarno during the Asian African Conference. Sukarno was born in 1901. Between 1945 and 1967 he was the first President of Indonesia. He died in 1970. The Asian African Conference was a meeting of Asian and African countries in Bandung in 1955.

With matching stamps:
50 years Diplomatic Relations with North Korea (whole set) (issued 15-04-2015)
It is a joint issue with North Korea.
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Thank You very much Shinta!

Japan: Porco Rosso

On Wednesday I got six postcards: one from Japan, one from Indonesia, two from Germany, one from Hong Kong and one from the United Kingdom.

The card from Japan shows a scene from Porco Rosso. Porco Rosso is an animated movie produced by Studio Ghibli. It tells the story of an Italian World War I ex-fighter ace, who fights against air pirates. It was released in 1992.

Stamp:
Tales from Stars (from set of four) (issued 25-09-2015)
On the stamp there is a hologram.
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Keiko!

United Kingdom: Queen Elizabeth II

On Wednesday I got six postcards: one from the United Kingdom, one from Japan, one from Indonesia, two from Germany and one from Hong Kong.

The card from the United Kingdom shows different stamps showing Queen Elizabeth II. To commemorate Queen Elizabeth's achievement of becoming the longest reigning monarch in the British history a new First Class Definitive in Amethyst Purple with a "Long to Reign Over Us" overprint was issued on 9th September 2015. Two of the stamps are applied to the card.

The card was sent in a transparent envelope.

Thank You very much Pete!

Hong Kong: Court of Final Appeal

On Wednesday I got six postcards: one from Hong Kong, one from the United Kingdom, one from Japan, one from Indonesia and two from Germany.

The card from Hong Kong shows the Court of Final Appeal. The Court of Final Appeal is the highest appellate court in Hong Kong.

With a matching stamp:
Court of Final Appeal (issued 30-09-2015)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Joe!

Germany: Bielefeld Postcrossing Meet-up

On Wednesday I got six postcards: two from Germany, one from Hong Kong, one from the United Kingdom, one from Japan and one from Indonesia

One of the cards from Germany shows a stack of postcards.

The card was sent from the Postcrossing Meet-up in Bielefeld.
Stamp:
Dresden (from set of two) (issued 03-04-2014)

Thank You very much Sabine!

Germany: Sylt

On Wednesday I got six postcards: two from Germany, one from Hong Kong, one from the United Kingdom, one from Japan and one from Indonesia

One of the cards from Germany shows an aerial view of the island of Sylt.

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)

Thank You very much Lilly!

German Unity covers

On Wednesday returned my three covers about German Unity from the postmarking unit. The covers were issued on 1st October 2015 and are prepaid. On the three covers there are three different special postmarks about 25 years of German Unity from Frankfurt, were the main celebrations were held.

cover from Russia

Today I got a cover from Russia.

Stamps:

Fountains of Russia (from set of four) (issued 15-12-2009)

Native Military Equipment of World War I (from set of four) (issued 10-09-2015)

Inside were a postcard and a stamp set from Russia.
The postcard shows the Triumphal Arch of Moscow. The Triumphal Arch of Moscow was built between 1829 and 1834 to commemorate Russia's victory over Napoleon. It was dismantled when Josef Stalin reconstructed Moscow's downtown in 1936 and was rebuilt between 1966 and 1968.

The stamp set is about the World War I Centenary and shows Native Military Equipment of World War I (issued 10-09-2015).
The Novik Destroyer became a part of the Russian Navy in 1913 and was used during World War I. She was destroyed in 1941 by a sea mine.
The Sikorsky S-22 Ilya Muromets heavy bomber. It was designed and constructed at the Russo-Baltic Carriage Factory in 1913. During World War I 80 aircrafts were constructed, which were used in 400 mission sorties. Between the end of the war and 1923 they were used for the transport of post and passengers.
The 76.2 mm field rapid-firing gun was developed at Putilov Works in Saint Petersburg in 1902. It formed the basis of Russian Imperial artillery during World War I. Sometimes it was also used to destroy aircrafts and tanks.
The Mosin–Nagant 7.62 mm rifle was put into service in 1891 and repeatedly modernised. Due to its simplicity and reliability, it was actively used during World War I.

Thank You very much Nikolay!

United Nations: Security Council Chamber

Today I got a postcard from the United Nations.

It shows the Security Council Chamber at the United Nations complex in New York. The Security Council is one of the most important organs of the United Nations. Its task is the preservation of international peace and security and thus it can accept new members to the United Nations, change the United Nations Charter and authorise military actions. It was formed following World War II in 1946. The five permanent members of the council are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the USA. There are also ten non-permanent members from five regions changing regularly. At the moment the non-permanent members are Angola, Chad, Chile, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Spain and Venezuela. The Security Council is often criticised and there are different plans the reform it.

With a great stamp:
End Violence against Children (from set of two) (issued 20-08-2015)

Thank You very much Kylie!

Åland: Fauna

On Saturday I got two postcards: one from the Åland Islands and one from Germany.

The card from the Åland Islands shows the fauna of the islands. On Åland live around 25 mammal species and around 130 bird species breed there. Apart from the game nearly all animals living on the islands are under conservation. 

With a related stamp:
sepac (issued 20-08-2013)
The stamp shows a Peacock butterfly.
The stamp uses modern Augmented Reality technology and if you scan it with the "Sepac App" it creates a three-dimensional picture of Åland (see pictures below).
with a special postmark about World Post Day

Thank You very much Liisa!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Germany: Schwedt

On Saturday I got two postcards: one from Germany and one from the Åland Islands.

The card from Germany shows various views of Schwedt. Schwedt is a town in the German State of Brandenburg nearby the River Oder and the Polish border. It is located within the Lower Oder Valley National Park and was awarded the title National Park City. It is an important location of the oil processing and paper industry.

I got this card a few weeks ago in a cover.

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)
with a special postmark about Schwedt's 750th anniversary of first mentioning

Thank You very much Julia for sending me the card in an envelope!

Finland: Tove Jansson

On Friday I got a postcard from Finland.

It shows Tove Jansson. Tove Jansson was a Finland Swedish writer, illustrator and comic strip author. She is especially known for writing and illustrating the Moomins. He was born in Helsinki in 1914 and died there in 2001.

With a matching stamp:
100th birthday of Tove Jansson (from set of two) (issued 31-01-2014)
with a special postmark from World Post Day

Thank You very much Liisa!

Andorra: Casa de la Vall in Andorra la Vella

At the beginning of this week I was on holidays in Istanbul and during this time nine postcards arrived including my first card from Andorra.

Andorra is a country in Southwestern Europe bordered by France and Spain. It is the sixth smallest country in Europe. The country is leaded by two co-princes, the Bishop of Urgell from Spain and the President of France.

The card shows the Casa de la Vall in Andorra la Vella. Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra. It is Europe's highest capital and hosted the Games of the Small States of Europe in 1991 and 2005. It is also a popular ski resort. The Casa de la Vall houses the General Council of Andorra.

Stamp:
Coat of Arms (issued 18-10-2010)
The postal service in Andorra is not operated by the country itself but by France and Spain. French and Spanish Post issue both different stamps for Andorra. This one was issued by the French Post. 

Thank You very much Svea!

Belgium: Ixelles Cemetery

At the beginning of this week I was on holidays in Istanbul and during this time nine postcards arrived including one from Belgium.

It shows the World War I memorial at the Ixelles Cemetery. The Ixelles Cemetery is one of the most important Belgian cemeteries. Among others it houses the graves of soldiers from Belgium, France, Italy, Russia and Great Britain having died in World War I. 

With great stamps:
Tintin and his friends (from set of ten) (issued 22-04-2014)
Tintin is a Belgian series of comics created by Hergé from 1929 until his death. It is one of the most famous European comics. The stamp shows Thomson and Thompson.
Centenary of World War I (from set of five) (issued 19-03-2015)

Thank You very much Tinne!

Finland: The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My

At the beginning of this week I was on holidays in Istanbul and during this time nine postcards arrived including one from Finland.

It shows an illustration from The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My. The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My was Tove Jansson's first Moomin picture book. It was published in 1952. It tells the story of Moomintroll and Mymble searching for Mymble's little sister Little My.

With a matching stamp:
Water Strip (from set of three) (issued 25-09-2008)
Moomins-Mymble (from set of six) (issued 06-05-2011)
with a special postmark from World Post Day

Thank You very much Liisa!

New Zealand: Flag

At the beginning of this week I was on holidays in Istanbul and during this time nine postcards arrived including one from New Zealand.

It shows the Flag of New Zealand. The Flag of New Zealand is used since 1869 and is since 1902 the official flag of the country. It consists of a defaced Blue Ensign and a Southern Cross. At the moment a referendum is held about changing the flag.

With great stamps:
New Zealand's Longest Reigning Monarch (two from set of seven) (issued 07-08-2015)

Thank You very much Sharon!

Estonia: Tahkuna Lighthouse

At the beginning of this week I was on holidays in Istanbul and during this time nine postcards arrived including one from Estonia.

It shows the Tahkuna Lighthouse on the island of Hiiumaa. The Tahkuna Lighthouse was built between 1873 and 1875. With a height of 43m it is the tallest cast-iron tower in Estonia.

With a matching stamp and another nice stamp:
Otter (issued 25-08-2015)
Tahkuna Lighthouse (issued 16-10-2015)
with First Day Special Postmark
Definitive (issued 16-10-2015)

Thank You very much Jaan!

Germany: Town Hall of Münster

At the beginning of this week I was on holidays in Istanbul and during this time nine postcards arrived including four cards from Germany

One of the cards from Germany shows the Town Hall of Münster. In 1648 the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War, was negotiated and signed in the Town Halls of Münster and Osnabrück. Due to this event Osnabrück and Münster got the European Heritage Label in 2014.

Stamp:
Dresden (from set of two) (issued 03-04-2014)

Thank You very much Klaus!

Germany: History of Halle

At the beginning of this week I was on holidays in Istanbul and during this time nine postcards arrived including four cards from Germany

One of the cards from Germany is the Chronicle card of Halle. Halle was once a wealthy city because of the production and trade of salt and joined the Hanseatic League in 1280. In 1685 George Frideric Handel was born in Halle and in 1695 the Francke Foundations were founded. During the time of the German Democratic Republic was Halle an important site of the chemical industry. Since 1990 is Halle a part of the German State of Saxony-Anhalt.

The card was sent from the Postcrossing Meet-up in Halle.
Stamp:
Dresden (from set of two) (issued 03-04-2014)

Thank You very much Amelie!

Germany: Halle Postcrossing Meet-up

At the beginning of this week I was on holidays in Istanbul and during this time nine postcards arrived including four cards from Germany

One of the cards from Germany was printed for the Postcrossing Meet-up in Halle.

On the backside are the signatures of all attendees.
Stamp:
Dresden (from set of two) (issued 03-04-2014)

Thank You very much Thomas!

Germany: Hamburg Postcrossing Meet-up

At the beginning of this week I was on holidays in Istanbul and during this time nine postcards arrived including four cards from Germany

One of the cards from Germany shows the Köhlbrand Bridge, a life belt and the Elbe Philharmonic Hall in Hamburg.

The card was sent from the Postcrossing Meet-up in Hamburg.
Stamp:
Dresden (from set of two) (issued 03-04-2014)

Thank You very much Sabine!

France: Parc de la Tête d'Or in Lyon

On 16th October I got two postcards from France.

One of them shows the Parc de la Tête d'Or. The Parc de la Tête d'Or is a public park in Lyon. It was created between 1856 and 1857 and was since then expanded by various features. Today it houses among others a zoo, a lake, rose gardens and the botanical garden of Lyon.

Stamps:
New Marianne 0,01€, 0,05€ and 0,10€
Chalon-sur-Saône (issued 20-04-2015)

Thank You very much William

France: Lyon

On 16th October I got two postcards from France.

One of them shows various views of Lyon. 

Stamps:
New Marianne 0,10€
The 1960s-hobbies (from set of six) (issued 15-06-2015)

Thank You very much William